HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT DAY IN HOWTH, IRELAND

Howth is a small fishing village on the Howth Peninsula and is one of Dublin’s suburbs. We visited this place in August 2022, so we got a good idea on How to Spend a Perfect Day in Howth, Ireland!

Howth was first mentioned in the 11th century, when Norse Vikings lived here, before the Anglo-Normans took over Ireland in 1169. Ever since the 14th century, Howth has been a minor trading port. 

Today Howth is a popular spot with Dubliners and tourists, especially in the summer months.

They like to escape the busy city life, eat fresh seafood, soak up the sun by one of Howth’s picturesque beaches, or hike up the amazing Howth Cliff Walk and enjoy the best views of Dublin Bay. 

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Things to See and Do

Hike Up the Howth Cliff Walk

Let’s start with Howth’s Top Attraction for outdoor fans: The Howth Cliff Walk! Depending on your fitness level and how much time you have, there are five trails to choose from. No matter which one you take, you’ll be guaranteed stunning views of Dublin Bay!

The Howth Summit Walk

The Howth Summit Walk is the easiest and shortest trail around the cliffs of Howth. It starts at the Howth Summit Cliff Walk parking lot. Just turn right at the Summit Inn (13 Thormanby Rd, Howth, Dublin 13, D13 XK50, Ireland).

The local buses #6 and #H3 can take you from the DART Train Station to Howth Summit (stop 567) as well (7 to 9 minutes). 

The walk takes around 1.5 hours to complete. There’s not much incline, so it’s perfect for people who like to go for walks, but aren’t into anything crazy, lol!

This is the trail we took. If you need to refuel before the hike, stop at Bailey Brew Coffee (The Summit Car Park, 1 Bailey Green Rd, Howth, Summit, Co. Dublin, D13 EP11, Ireland) right next to the parking lot!

The Black Linn Loop (The Red Route)

This moderate hike (8 km/4.9 miles) takes about 2.5 hours. The Black Linn Loop goes by Howth Harbour, Balscadden Bay, the Nose of Howth, and the Deer Park Golf Course.

The Bog of Frogs Loop (The Purple Route)

If you like a challenge, go for The Bog of Frogs Loop, the longest and most difficult trail in Howth! It’s 12 km (7.4 miles) long, lasts around 3 hours, and goes up to an ascent of 240 meters (787 ft).

The Bog of Frogs Loop takes you all the way to Bailey Lighthouse, Doldrum Bay, and Red Rock (a popular photo spot).

The Howth Cliff Path Loop (The Green Route)

The Howth Cliff Path Loop is a moderate trail that lots of people choose. Why? Well, it’s shorter than the other three (6 km/3.7 miles) and its ascent is at 130 meters (426 ft). So it’s perfect if you’re in Howth for the day and/or short on time!

You’ll walk by Balscadden Bay, the Nose of Howth, and the Deer Park Golf Course, all while being rewarded with magnificent coastal views! If you feel like walking a bit longer, Bailey Lighthouse is not too far away from the usual route.

The Tramline Loop (The Blue Route)

Finally, there’s The Tramline Loop. It’s perfect for hikers with a moderate fitness level, as it’s 7 km (4.3 miles) long and takes about two hours to complete.

All trails (except for the Howth Summit Walk) start and finish at the DART Howth Train Station (Howth Rd, Howth, Dublin, Ireland). Just follow the red, purple, blue, or green arrows (depending on the trail) and you’re on the right track! There’s a large parking lot near the train station as well.

I highly recommend bringing water, snacks, good walking shoes, and sunscreen for hiking any of these trails. Besides, there are no railings next to the cliffs edge and it can be quite windy thanks to the trails being right next to the sea.

You can find a map of any of the trails in this post by The Irish Road Trip.

Relax at Claremont Beach for a While

After all this exercise, you deserve a break at Claremont Beach! It’s only a few minutes from the DART Howth Train Station and thanks to its large size, it wasn’t crowded during our visit. In fact, Claremont Beach was one of our favourite beaches during our Ireland trip!

This sandy beach is perfect for sunbathing, reading, going for a swim, building sandcastles, looking for shells, or walking around during low tide. You might even stumble upon some jellyfish laying in the sand!

The eye-catching street art next to the beach was cool as well.

There’s a lifeguard station at Claremont Beach during the summer months only. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 am to 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays in June and every day from July to August.

Visit the Howth Lighthouse

Another great attraction to visit in Howth is the quaint Howth Lighthouse. It marks the entry to Howth Harbour and was completed in 1817. The lighthouse is 10 meters (32 feet) high. Behind the lighthouse is a busy fishing port and a big marina.

Same as lots of other people, we sat on the steps by Howth Lighthouse and listened to a busking musician while watching the Irish Sea for a while. He was very good and had chosen a perfect spot to entertain us!

Walk around Howth Harbour

Only a few steps further, you can’t miss the rather small, but very picturesque Howth Harbour! It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, and there are several seafood restaurants if you’re looking for a bite to eat!

Once you reach the end of the pier, take a few minutes to watch out for grey seals hanging out in the harbour basin, and admire the view of the Irish Sea and the island of Ireland’s Eye!

Finally, there’s a stonemason with the imprinted footprints of King George IV near the quay wall at the entrance to Howth Harbour. He was the King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1820-1830 and visited Howth on August 12, 1821.

More Things to See and Do in Howth

If you have more time in Howth, here are few other attractions that sound pretty awesome:

Take a Ferry out to Ireland’s Eye

If you’re bursting with curiosity about Ireland’s Eye now, then keep on reading!

Ireland’s Eye is famous for its wildlife, in particular a seabird sanctuary that’s protected by the EU Habitats Directives. Puffins, gannets, seagulls, guillemots, and more call this place home. Besides, you might spot grey seals, porpoises, dolphins, and even whales on your way to the island!

You can hop on a ferry from the West Pier at Howth Harbour to Ireland’s Eye, which only takes about 15 minutes! You can choose between three companies to take you there and back:

Dublin Bay Cruises. It departs at 2:15 pm from April to September (Friday-Sunday only). The trip takes around 60 minutes and the cost is 20 € per person.

Ireland’s Eye Ferries. This local company offers small group boat tours to Ireland’s Eye. The cost is 25 € for adults and 15 € for students and children.

Island Ferries. This family owned company is the only one of the three that allows guests to step out on Ireland’s Eye. You can book tours from April to October at 24 € for adults and 14 € for children (3-15 years). Dogs are welcome as well!

Here’s a promotional video of Ireland’s Eye Ferries:

Visit Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy of Vintage Radio Museum

Address: Martello Tower, Abbey St, Howth, Dublin, D13 V099, Ireland

If you’re into museums, check out Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy of Vintage Radio Museum inside the Martello Tower. It used to be a lookout for an expected Napoleonic attack in 1805. The museum exhibits display the story of telecommunication from the 1840s to the present day.

You can also look at examples of early Morse equipment, gramophones, crystal sets, and valve radios! Besides, you’ll see music boxes, posters, photographs, telegrams, batteries, needle boxes, early TVs, stamps, household items and more!

The museum is open daily from 11 am to 4 pm.

Browse around Howth Market

Address: 3A Harbour Road, Howth, Co Dublin, Ireland

Wanna stock up on tasty food and grab some Irish souvenirs? Then don’t miss Howth Market across from the DART Howth Train Station. It’s one of Ireland’s leading markets and while retail shops are open daily, up to 25 stalls are open on weekends and bank holidays from 9 am to 6 pm.

Here you’ll find baked goods, jewelry, fresh fruit and veggies, gifts, antiques, gelato, clothing, and Irish and international foods!

Where to Stay in Howth

If you’re staying in Howth overnight, I recommend booking a room at the King Sitric Guesthouse (6 E Pier, Howth, Dublin, D13 F5C6, Ireland) in the town centre, which is only minutes away from restaurants and Howth Harbour.

Our room was rather small but cozy and quiet, and we loved the maritime décor, especially the red lobster pillows! They have amazing ocean views as well. The King Sitric Guesthouse also wants to be as sustainable as possible by not wasting food and filtering and carbonating their water.

A tasty a-la-carte breakfast was included, and they are proud of their Seafood Bar on the ground floor. In the summer months, you can also eat outside on the terrace or at one of their beach huts. The majority of the local seafood (lobster, crab, mussels, oysters, etc.) is caught daily at Dublin Bay.

The King Sitric Guesthouse from the outside and our cozy room.

Where to Eat & Drink in Howth

If seafood or fish is your thing, then Howth is THE place to go! There are several restaurants around downtown Howth that specialize in this food.

We had dinner at The Bloody Stream, a traditional Irish pub next to the DART Howth Train Station. While their menu features lots of seafood (e.g. mussels, prawns, fish cakes, and oysters), you can also go for steak, veggie burgers and regular burgers, or Beef & Guinness Pie!

My mom tried their Fish’n’Chips and I went for the Halloumi Veggie Burger. Both were super yummy! Besides, we loved the cozy and rustic vibe inside, which matches perfectly with the old fashioned décor and open turf fireplace! There’s also an outdoor beer garden and live music on a regular basis. 

We also stopped for a break at Insomnia Coffee Company (10 Harbour Rd, Howth, Dublin, D13 EN24, Ireland), a popular Irish coffee shop chain. They are known for their fair trade coffee and tea, pastries, and sandwiches. 

How to Get to Howth from Dublin

Howth is only 15 km (9.3 miles) from Dublin, so getting there is a piece of cake! It only takes about 30 minutes from Connolly Station in downtown Dublin on the DART train to the Howth DART Train Station. The DART train goes very often as well.

You can also take bus #6 or bus #H3 from the Busáras Central Bus Station in Dublin to Howth Summit, which is only a few steps from the Howth DART Train Station. This trip takes about 35 to 50 minutes.

If you have a car, just follow the R803, R807, and R105 roads from Dublin to Howth along the coastline (about 25 minutes, depending on traffic).

The Best Time to Visit Howth

On average, you’ll experience the best weather in Howth during the summer months (June-August), but this is when Howth is at its busiest! We stayed here on a weekday, so it’s wasn’t too bad, but I imagine Howth is a lot busier on weekends.

May and September are great months to visit if you’d like to avoid the crowds, but want to take advantage of everything Howth has to offer. That’s when prices might be lower as well.

Howth is open year-round, but there’s a chance that some amenities are closed during the winter and fall months and in early spring. It might get very windy then, but there will be way less people around.

Conclusion

No matter the reason and time of the year, Howth is always worth a visit! Our favourite things to do were the Howth Summit Walk, then relaxing at Claremont Beach, hanging out by Howth Lighthouse, and eating the delicious dinner at The Bloody Stream. The locals were super welcoming as well!

So hopefully this post on How to Spend a Perfect Day in Howth, Ireland was helpful to you!

Traveling around Ireland for a while? Then check out these posts:

The Best Dublin Travel Guide

How to Spend a Day in Athlone, Ireland

A 3-Day Travel Guide for Killarney, Ireland

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